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Report: Family of Carlisle teen speaks out, says baby was not born alive

Report: Family of Carlisle teen speaks out, says baby was not born alive

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Updated: 6:19 PM EDT Sep 26, 2017

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WEBVTT HER AUNT ANDUNCLE DID.SKYLAR RICHARDSON'S BABY WAS NOTBORN ALIVE.rtIT WAS STILL BORN.THAT'S THE CLAIM CARLISLE TEEN'SFAMILY MADE ACCORDING TOCINCINNATI MAGAZINE.THE ARTICLE STATES NO ONE IN THEFAMILY OTHER THAN RICHARDSON WASAWARE SHE WAS PREGNANTrt.AND AFTER DELIVERING THESTILLBORN CHILD AT HER FAMILYHOME, SHE WAS SCARED AND BLAMEDHERSELF, SO SHE BURIED THE BODYIN THE BACKYARD.rtINVESTIGATORS WHO FOUND THEREMAINS IN THE YARD SAY THE BABYWAS ALIVE WHEN BORN ANDRICHARDSON PURPOSELY CAUSED HERDEATH THEN BURNED AND BURIED THErtBODY.IN THE ARTICLE RICHARDSON'S AUNTREFUTES THE CLAIM THE BABY WASBURNEDFAMILY MEMBERS REPORTEDLY TOLDTHE MAGAZINE RICHARDSON HASrtSTRUGGLED WITH EATING DISORDERS.AND WHEN SHE BEGAN PUTTING ONWEIGHT THEY WERE RELIEVED THATSHE WAS HEALTHY THEY ADDRESSED RICHARDSON'S PROMrtPHOTOS WHICH HAVE SPREAD AROUNDSOCIAL MEDIA.HER AUNT IS QUOTED AS SAYING INHINDSIGHT SHE DOES HAVE A BUMP.WE ARE HATING OURSELVES FOR THATNOW.BUT AT THE TIME, WE JUrtST THOUGHTSHE WAS EATING GOOD AND NOTMAKING HERSELF THROW UP.PROSECUTOR DAVID FORNSHELL SAYSRICHARDSON DELIVERED THE BABYFULL TERM JUST TWO DAYS AFTERrtTHE CARLISLE HIGH SCHOOL PROM.ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE, THFAMILY CLAIMS RICHARDSON, DIDNOT KNOW SHE WAS PREGNANT UNTILSHORTLY BEFORE SHE GAVE BIRTH.rtAND DURING A ROUTINE APPOINTMENTTO THE OB-GYN, RICHARDSON TOLDHER DOCTOR SHE HAD A STILLBOrt.THAT SPARKED A POLICEINVESTIGATION.THE FAMILY TOLD CINCINNATIMAGAZINE SOCIAL MEDIA HASDEMONIZED THE TEENAGER.THEY SAID MEDIA COVERAGE HASrtBEEN ONE-SIDED AND CALLED THEBEHAVIOR OF INVESTIGATORSQUESTIONABLE.HER UNCLE TOLD THE MAGAZINE, WEHAVE SOLID REPUTATIONS AND NOWrtEVERYONE JUST LOOKS DOWN AT USJUST TO BE CLEAR EVERYTIME WEHAVE DONE A STORY, WE HAVE TRIEDrtCONTACTING EITHER SKYLAR, HERFAMILY OR ATTORNEY TO GET THEIRSIDE.THE PROSECUTOR PREVIOUSLY SAIDONE OF THE MOTIVATING FACTORS INrtTHIS CASE WAS SKYLAR WANTING TO

Report: Family of Carlisle teen speaks out, says baby was not born alive

They say it was stillborn and "no one in the family other than Richardson was aware she was pregnant, and after delivering the stillborn child at her family home, she was scared and blamed herself, so she buried the body in the backyard."

However, investigators said the baby girl was alive when born, and Richardson purposely caused the infant's death before burning and burying the body.

Richardson is charged with aggravated murder, involuntary manslaughter, endangering children, tampering with evidence and abuse of a corpse.

In the article, Richardson's aunt refutes the claim the baby was burned.

Family members reportedly told the magazine Richardson "has struggled with eating disorders through her teen years," and when she began putting on weight, they were "relieved that she was healthy and were hesitant to comment or inquire further."

The family addressed Richardson's prom photos, which have circulated on social media, with Cincinnati Magazine writer Sonia Chopra.

Richardson's aunt is quoted as saying, "In hindsight, she does have a bump. We are hating ourselves for that now. But at the time, we just thought she was eating good and not making herself throw up."

Prosecutor David Fornshell said Richardson delivered the baby full term, just two days after the Carlisle High School prom.

According to the article, the family claims Richardson, "did not know she was pregnant until shortly before she gave birth, and experienced sporadic menstrual cycles all through the pregnancy."

Chopra wrote that, according to the family, during a routine appointment with an OB-GYN, Richardson told the doctor she had given birth to a stillborn baby.

That sparked a police investigation.

The family told Cincinnati Magazine social media has demonized the teenager.

They said media coverage has been one-sided, and called the behavior of investigators questionable.